Corn-harvester



10 SheetsSheet. 1.

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s. 0. KENAGA. CORN HARVESTEB.

No. 447,465. Patented Mar. 3, 1891.

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Patented Mar. 3, 1891.

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S. C. KENAGIL CORN HARVESTER- No. 447,465. Patented Mar. 3, 1891,

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No. 447,465. 4 Patented Mar. 3, 1'891.

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10 Sheets-Sheet 5.

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s. G-..KENAGA CORN 'HARVESTER- Patented Mar. 3,1891.

(No Model.) 1O Sheets-Sheet 6 G. KENAGA. CORN HABVESTER.

No. 447,465. Patented Mar. 3, 1891.

(No Model.) 10 Sheets--Sheet 7.

S. O. KENAGA. 001m HARVESTER.

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Patented Mar. 3;, 1891.

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S. G..KENAGA. GORN HARVESTER.

NO. 447,465. Patented Mar. 3, 1891.

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SQQKBNAGA. GORN HARVESTER.

No. 447,465. Patented Mar. 3;.1891.

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CORN-HARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,465, dated March 3, 1891.

Application filed July 12,1889. Serial No. 317,302- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL C. KENAGA, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Harvesters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of corn-harvesters which have cutters or knives mounted on the frame of the machine and arranged to sever the standing corn by being drawn against the same in the forward movement of the machine-such, for instance, as is described and shown in Letters Patent of the United States No. 299,401, which were granted to me May 27, 1884.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a corn-harvester embodying my invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same, taken upon line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig.3 isa sectional elevation taken upon line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the knifesupporting devices shown in Fig.3. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the same, taken on line 3 3" of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on line 3'3 of Fig. Fig. 4 is a detail section taken upon line a 4. of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the devices for guiding the upper parts of the stalks. Fig. 6 is a cross-section taken on line Fig. 7 is a detail section taken upon line 7 7 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detail section of the rear bearing of the con Veyershaft, showing the same in its changed position. Fig. 8 is a detail section of the knife, taken upon line 8 S of Fig. 1. Fig.9is a detail section of the auxiliary cutter, taken upon line 9 9 of Fig. 2. Fig. 10 is a detail section of the forward part of the frame, taken upon line 10 10 of Fig. 1.. Fig. 11 is a detail crosssection taken upon line 11 ll of Fig. 1. Fig. 11 is a detail view of the rear knife-support. Fig. 12 is a side view of an alarm apparatus for indicating the point at which the accumulated stalks shall be discharged. Fig. 13

A machine as illustrated in the drawings is contrived to cut one row of corn at a time; and it consists, generally, of a rectangular frame supporting a platform to receive the cut corn and having attached to it at one side thereof a longitudinal exterior guide-piece, between which guide-piece and the adjacent side piece of the machine-frame is formed a guide-slot for the corn, within or across which the cutting-knife is placed. The machine is supported at its rear end by two wheels placed at either side thereof and at its front end by a third wheel, for which may be substituted, if preferred, two wheels, or rigidly-attached shafts or thills, as shown in said prior patent. In addition to the outer longitudinal guide above mentioned, suitably-arranged elevated guides or deflectors are provided upon the machine for throwing the tops of the standing corn forward and inward as the machine advances, so that when the stalks are encountered and cut by the knife the severed tops will fall into the receptacle. Means are also provided for conveying the butt-ends of the cut stalks laterally from the knife into the receptacle, the same consisting of a rotating spiral conveyor actuated from one of the supporting-wheels of the machine, as hereinafter more fully described.

The several parts of the machine above mentioned are constructed and operate substantially in the manner set-forth in the application above referred to.

The frame of the machine, as herein shown, consists of two longitudinal side pieces A A, cross-pieces A A joining the side pieces at the front end of the frame, two horizontal cross-pieces A A which connect the two side pieces A A at the rear end of the machine, and also a third longitudinal piece A arranged parallel with the frame-piece A at one side of the machine, and which supports and; forms part of a longitudinal guide, indicated as a whole by 13, which is outside of the row of corn that is being cut.

B and B are rearwardly and upwardly inclined guide-pieces, and O, D, and D are elevated guides or deflectors, arranged to bend and guide the standing cornstalks inwardly and forwardly over the frame of the machine as the stalks are out in the forward movement thereof, as hereinafter more particularly described.

E is a tilting receptacle for the cut corn, said receptacle being located between the side pieces A A of the frame, near theforward end of the latter. The receptacle 1*) is arranged with its rear edge in advance of the cutting-knife, and is pivotally connected with the forward part of the frame, so as to enable its rear end to rise and fall in passing over stones or other obstructions upon the ground.

F is the cutting-knife, which is sustained upon the machine-frame in the manner hereinafter more particularly described, and eX- tends across the space between the guide B and the longitudinal frame-pieee A to a point inside of the exterior face of the latter, said knife being inwardly and upwardlyinclined, in the manner and for the purpose set forth in the patent above referred to.

G is a guide-rod attached to the lower longitudinal pieceA of the guide B and inclined inwardly in its forward part, so as to crowd the cornstalks together at their lower portions and to confine them adjacent to the framepiece A, so that they will be readily cut off by the knife. Said guide-rod is located some what in advance of the forward end of the knife, and between the knife and the guiderod is located a vertically-movable knife-support IT, consisting of a flat and horizontallyarranged plate or frame, which is pivoted at its forward end to the machine-frame adja cent to the rear end of the guiderod G, and extends beneath and is pivotally connected with the forward end of the knife. The inner edge of said knife-support II is arranged approximately in line with the rear end of the guide-rod G, and serves as aguide to retain the cornstalks adjacent to the frame-piece A until the latter are encountered by the knife.

I is a screw conveyer, which is mounted in suitable bearings upon the machine-frame, with its forward end adjacent to and in advance of the knife and which operates to convey inward to the receptacle E the butts of the cut corn as the same falls forward when severed by the knife. The said conveyor Iis actuated by suitable intermediate drivingconnections from a sprocket-wheel J upon one of the supporting-wheels K, which sustain the rear part of the machine, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

The front end of the machine is provided with thills L L, which are attached to a vertical forked frame L, carrying the forward supporting-wheel L The frame L is connected by a horizontal pivotZ with a vertical rod or shaft L, with which the forward cross bar A of the frameis connected by means of a socket L on the frame which embraces the shaft L The cross-bar of the frame is adjustable vertically upon the shaft to admit of raising and lowering the forward end of the frame, the socket L being herein shown as adjustably sustained upon the shaft by means of a ring or collar Z, held in place upon the shaft by pins P, which may be placed in either one of a series of holes Z Z in said shaft.

If is a singletree, which is connected with the socket- L" by means of a link Z", so that when the horse is drawing the machine the draft comes directly upon the main frame instead of upon the forked frame L.

Z are brace-rods extending from the longitudinal side pieces A A of the frame to the lower end of the shaft L. Said brace-rods Z Z serve to rigidly connect the shaft L with the longitudinal frame-pieces, thereby maintaining said shaft in a vertical position. The brace-rods Z are herein shown as secured to the shaft. L by means of a collar Z, which surrounds the shaft, and to which the brace-rods are attached; but said brace-rods maybe othwise connected with the shaft, as found convenient or desirable. The horizontal pivot 5 enables the thills to swing freelyin a vertical plane without disturbing the upright position of the shaft L, while the shaft I), turning in the socket L, allows the shafts and wheel L to be turned or swung horizontally in turning the machine.

The guide-pieces B and 13 are curved or rounded upon their upper and inner surfaces, so as to present no acute angles or edges upon which the ears of corn may become caught, and by which they maybe detached from the stalks as the latter are pressed against and drawn over the said guide-pieces. The upperguidepiece 13 is, furthermore, Fig. 3, desirably provided with an inner depending flat guidesurface or extension B, which throws and holds outwardly-hangiug ears on the stalks inwardly, so that the weight of the same will not tend to carry the stalks outwardly, and thus prevent the same from falling downwardly and forwardly into the receptacle. Such guide-surface, furthermore, prevents short stalks, or those which are slanted or inclined outwardly, from being thrown or east through the space beneath the said guide Bi instead of being thrown inwardly, where they will be caught within the receptacle E. Said guide-pieces B and B are conveniently supported from the lower part of the machine frame by means of a post or standard A, bolt-ed to the exterior frame-piece A, and by another post A, located upon the said framepiece A, in the manner illustrated. The forward upwardly and inwardly inclined guidepiece 1-3 is attached at its forward end to the front end of the longitudinal frame-piece A, and at its rear end to the post A, which is IIO located upon the frame-piece A at a point in advance of the knife. The guide-piece B which forms a continuation of the guide B, is arranged with its inner edge in a plane parallel with the longitudinal frame-pieces of the machine, and is supported at its forward end upon the post A and at its rear end upon horizontal cross-pieces A and A sustained upon the posts or standards A A short arms or braces a a serving to connect the said guide with the cross-pieces A and A, in the manner illustrated. An oblique brace A extends from the cross-piece A to the crosspiece A The guide or deflector O is preferably curved inwardly or backwardly in its middle part, and consists of a metal rod 0, to which is attached an upwardly and outwardly flaring or curved piece 0, of sheet metal, which serves to prevent the ears of corn which rub or scrape over the said deflector from catching thereon, and thereby becoming detached from the stalks. Said deflector is held in place by means of a T-head c, which has sliding engagement with a longitudinal slot 1) in the guide E the opposite end of the deflector being supported by means of a slotted arm 0 .which engages the guide-rod D in such manner as to sustain the end of the deflectorfrom vertical movement, while allowing the deflector to be easily adjusted backward and forward upon the machine.

To enable the deflector C to be easily moved by the driver, an actuating rod or bar 0 is attached to the same, said rod having a ban dle c at its rear end to be grasped by the driver. The bar 0 is attached to the end of the bar a of the deflector at a point adjacent to the guide B and an inclined brace-rod c is preferably attached to the bar and to the rear surface of the deflector in the manner illustrated to strengthen the connection between the parts. Said bar C is engaged with a guide-plate 0, attached to the rear end of the guide B said bar being provided with a series of notches 0 either of which may be engaged with the guide-plate c to hold the deflector C from movement after it has been placedinthedesired position. By the useof the bar C the deflector maybe easily moved and the same secured in its shifted position without the driver leaving his seat. The slotted arm 0 is made of considerable length to allow the same to slide freely. on the inclined guide-bar D, this construction or some equivalent one obviously being required by reason of the inclination of the said guide-bar D with reference to the path of the deflector C when the same is moved. The said guide-rod D is attached at its rear end to the upper transverse bar or frame-piece A which connects the frame-standards A A and at its forward end is attached to the exterior longitudinal frame-piece A at a point near the front end of the frame, said guide-rod being inclined downwardly and forwardly in such manner as to aid in guiding the tops of the stalks as they fall forward into the receptacle. The upper guide-rod D is located somewhat above the guide-rod D, and is intended for supporting and guiding the upper ends of the stalks which project above the guide-rod D. Said guide-rod D is inclined downwardly and forwardly from a point opposite the deflector O, and is attached at its rear end to the crosspiece A and at its forward end to a standard A, which rises from the longitudinal frame-piece A in the manner illustrated. The upper end of said standard A is desirably provided with a guide-ring a for the reins, said guide-ring being so located as to hold the reins outside of the guides D and D, and clear of the falling corn, the frame-standard A for this purpose being shown as bent outwardly in the manner illustrated. The lower guide-rod D is preferably attached to the standard A at its point of crossing the same, by which said rod is additionally supported in the manner illustrated.

The receptacle E is more clearly shown in Fig. 4, and consists of a bottom 6, which is curved upwardly at its front end, and two side pieces a e. The receptacle is connected at its front end with the machine-frame by means of a pivotal or hinged joint e allowing the rear end of the receptacle to rise and fall. In the particular construction illustrated the front edge of the receptacle is connected by hinges e c with the transverse frame-piece A which extends between and is attached at its ends to the longitudinal fran1e-pieces A A near the forward ends of the latter. The receptacle is sustained at its rear end from the frame by means of chains E E, Figs. 2 and 4, the chains being attached at their upper ends to the longitudinal framepieces A and A and at their lower ends to the receptacle near the bottom of the latter. Said chains sustain the rear end of the receptacle free from the ground in the usual operation of the machine while permitting the same to rise bodilyand pass over obstructions, such as stones and lumps of earth. The said receptacle E is adapted to receive and hold the cornstalks severed by the knife and thrown within the receptacle by the action of the deflector (J, the several guides B, 13 D, and D, and the conveyer I.

Devices are provided for discharging the cut stalks which accumulate in the receptacle at desired times, the same being constructed as follows: At the rear end of the receptacle E is located a separate tail-piece or dropping extension which is hinged to the rear edge of the receptacle, so that its rear end may be raised and lowered. At the forward part of the receptacle is located a tilting section E hinged at its rear to the receptacle in the forward part of the latter and extending past or forward of the front edge of the receptacle and adapted to swing upwardly and backwardly at its forward end when the same is lifted. The dropping extension E is connected with the swinging section in such manner that when the said section E is at the lower limit of its movement the dropping extension will be sustained free from the ground and in alignment with the bottom of the receptacle or a little above the same. The connection between the parts is so devised that when the forward end of the tilting section is li ited the dropping extension is allowed to fall into contact with the ground, or nearly so, these two parts operating to secure the discharge of the accumulated stalks within the receptacle by the falling of the dropping extension which allows the butts of the stalks to rest upon the ground, and by the lifting of the tilting section which forces the upper ends of the stalks rcarwardly while at the same time throwing the stalks into an inclined position calculated to facilitate their discharge from the receptacle. The dropping extension E and swinging section E are operated to discharge thebundle by the driver through the medium of any suitable connecting device, actuated through the medium of a handle or foot-piece located in position convenient to be operated by the driver, one simple and convenient form of which is herein shown.

The devices for connecting the dropping extension with the tilting section herein shown are made as follows: E" is a rigid upwardlycxtcnding arm attached to the dropping extension E' and so arranged that an approximately horizontal movement of the upper end of the arm will swing the dropping extension about its pivot. E is arod attached to the upper end of the arm E, and extend ing forward toward the tilting section E and E is another rod attached to the upper or forward end of the tilting section and connected with the rod. 15". If the rods and E are rigidly connected with each other, the dropping extension ll will be sustained thereby in its elevated position when the tilting section E" is at the downward limit ofits movement, and when said tilting section is lifted or swung backward the dropping extension will be depressed. Inasmuch, however, as the said dropping extension is likely to strike and be lifted by obstructions upon the ground ata time when itis thrown downwardly by the lifting of the tilting section, a yielding or sliding joint is madebetween the rods E and l l,'so constructed that said rods may slide upon each other with the effect of shortening the connection in case the dropping extension is thrown forcibly upward at a time when the tilting section is lifted, this construction obviously affording safety from breakage or injury to the parts at such times. A further important advantage gained by this construction is that it enables the tilting section to he lifted or thrown back after the dropping section has struck the ground any distance necessary to insure the discharge of the stalks.

Any convenient form of sliding connection between the rods E and E maybe employed for the purpose stated. As herein shown,

two metal blocks or clips e e are rigidly secured to the rod E and are provided with bearing-apertures, in which the rod E is adapted to slide, and said rod E is provided at its rear end with ahead e, which strikes the rear-most of the clips e, so as to limit the relative movement of the rods and sustain the dropping extension above the ground in the ordinary operation of the machine. In case, however, the dropping extension'encounters an obstruction and is lifted thereby at the time the tilt-ing section E is thrown upward, the rod E slides in the clips 6 e, and thus allows the dropping extension to freely rise. It will of course be seen that any hind of a connection between the tilting section and the dropping extension adapted to be shortened or contracted in the manner described, or which is flexible to allow its ends to be brought toward each other, may be employed to produce the desired result in place of the sliding rods described. A chain or flexible connection is not as desirable as the said rods, however, because the same would be liable to become entangled with the stalks in the operation of the machine.

As a convenient means of operating the tilting section and dropping extension from the drivers seat, a rod E is attached to the forward part of thetilting section and reaches upwardly and rearwardly to a point within reach of the driver, who sits at the rearend of the machine, said rod being provided with a handle 6", sustained at its rear end by pass ing through a guide-aperture in a guide-arm 'or standard 0, attached to one of the rear frame-standards A \Vhen the tilting section is lifted by drawing upwardly and rearwardly upon the rod E the dropping extension will obviously be actuated through its connection with the said tilting section.

The tilting section E is provided. near its forward end with a transversely-arranged row of points or teeth E which extend upwardly from the surface of the tilting section and are herein shown as formed upon a plate secured to the same in the manner illustrated. The end portion E" of the tilting section outside or in front of the points or teeth E is curved upwardly and forwardly or made convex upon its upper surface, in the manner illustrated, Fig. 1-, and said part E" bears such relation to the teeth E that when the tilting section is at the lower limit of its movement the stalks thrown or restingovcr the forward end of the tilting section will rest upon and be engaged by the said teeth, and when the tilting section is thrown upwardly and rearwardly the curved part E will be brought above the teeth and into such position as to sustain the stalks free from the said teeth, as clearly shown in dotted lines in said Fig. 4. The object of the teeth E is to hold the stalks from slipping backward from the receptacle until it is desired to discharge the stalks therefrom and also to thrust backwardly the stalks in the lifting of the tilting section, so as to prevent the latter from merely sliding backward beneath the stalks at such time. The object of the convex surface E is to lift the stalks free from the teeth after the tilting section has been raised to a considerable distance, the

stalks resting upon and sliding freely over said con vex surface as they are drawn backwardly by the contact of their butts with the ground.

6 is a spring which is interposed between the forward part of the tilting section and the receptacle E, to take the weight of the said forward part of the tilting section when tion to the machine-frame, it only being necessary for this purpose to shift the point at which the tilting section is hinged to the receptacle backward or forward to bring the tilting section in the desired place. It will of course be seen that in the handling of short stalks it is necessary to locate the tilting section farther to the rear, so that it will properly act upon the upper ends of the stalks as it is lifted, while in cutting longer corn the tilting section must be placed farther forward, in order that the tops of the stalks may not project so far over the front end of the tilting section as to prevent the latter from properly discharging the stalks. As a convenient way of shifting the point at which the tilting section is hinged to the receptacle, the hinges e e are bolted to the bottom of the receptacle and two or more sets of boltholes 6 are provided at different points in the bottom of the receptacle, through-either of which the bolts for securing the hinges may be inserted. When the tilting section is bodily shifted in the manner described, it is obviously necessary to change the length of the connections uniting said tilting section with the dropping extension E and this may be conveniently done in the construction illustrated by shifting the position of one or both of the blocks or clamps e .2 upon the rod The actuating-rod E may be also so constructed that its length may be changed to correspond with the location of the tilting section, the rod for this purpose being shown as made in two parts arranged to overlap and joined by two clamp-plates e, clamped to the parts of the rod by a central bolt.

E Figs. 1, 2, and (3, is a flat upright shield extending longitudinally of the frame at the side of the receptacle E remote from the cutting-knife F. Said shield is herein shown as made of sheet metal and attached to the outer face of the frame-piece A; bntitmaybe otherwise constructed and secured to the frame as found convenient ordesirable. Said shield preferably extends from a pointopposite the front of the receptacle to a point at the rear of the axle of the supporting-wheel K. The forward part of said shield serves to prevent the upper parts of the stalks and the blades thereon from projecting outside of or beyond the side of the machine and retains the same within the receptacle. The rear part of the shield prevents down or bent stalks carried inwardly by the conveyer from being thrust or falling into contact with the wheel K and becoming entangled therein. Said shield also serves to break the force of the wind and to prevent the same from displacing the stalks as the latter fall into the receptacle.

The cutting-knife F is provided at its outer edge and rear end with an upwardly-extending flange F, which. serves to support the ends of the cut stalks; or, in other words, to prevent the same from slipping rearwardly or outwardly over or past the knife. Said out ends of the stalks rest on the knife, which is made of considerable breadth for this purpose, and are retained by the said flange nn til, by the dropping of the upper ends of the stalks, the butt-ends fall upon the conveyer I, and are thereby lifted from the knife, after which they are moved laterally away from over the knife by the conveyer and allowed to fall upon the rear part of the receptacle.

In order to afford ample support for the butts of the cut stalks, the rear end of the knife F is made of considerable width and is extended inwardly, giving the knife approximately an L shape, the cntting-edgef having an inward or concave curve, as shown, and having its cutting-edge more nearly transverse to the direction of motion of the machine at its rear than at its forward part. That part of the flange F which is located at the rear of the end of the knife is arranged nearly at right angles to the direction of motion of the machine, so as to catch and hold the cut ends of the stalks as the latter slide over the knife after having been severed, this part of the flange, however, being inclined to some extent inwardly and toward the rear of the machine, so as to allow the butts to escape freely from the same as said butts are carried inwardly, or toward the receptacle, by the action of the spiral conveyer.

As illustrated in said Letters Patent hereinbefore referred to, the cutting-knife is shown as immovably attached to the frame, so that the stalks are always severed thereby the same distance from the ground. It is sometimes found necessary or desirable to cut the corn at a higher or lower point, as may be required, for the proper operation of the knife or in view of the kind of corn being cut or its condition. For the purpose mentioned I have made the knife vertically adjustable upon the machine-frame, and I have further provided at the rear end of the knife a spring or yielding support adapted to allow some degree of vertical movement or vibration in the knife when in operation. As a further improvement I so sustain the knife that it is at all times free to rise at either end or bodily, whereby its action in cutting is found to begreatly improved. The forward end of the knife is connected and movable vertically with the knife-support ll, and both of these parts are adj ustably sustained from the machine-frame by a sliding connection limiting the downward movement of the knife-support and the front end of the knife, but allowing the same to rise freely in cutting, thereby preventing the knife from binding on the cut stubs. l urthermore, the construction described allows the parts to rise freely in case the knife-support, which extends under the forward end of the knife, strikes any obstacle upon the ground.

In the particular construction illustrated, Figs. 1, 3, and G, a curved knife-supporting bar II. is bolted to the top of the knifesup port II and extends upwardly therefrom through a guide H attached to the longitudinal frame-piece A. Said bar 11' is adapted to slide freely through the guide H and is preferably curved to avoid the necessity of elongating the slot in the guide or of making a hinged connection between the bar and the knife-support. At the upper end of the bar ll, above the guide 11 is seen red a stop or pro jection 71, adapted to strike the top of the guide, and thereby limit the downward movement of the knife and the knifesupport. Said stop 72 is adapted for adjustable connection with thebar 11', so that the downward movement of the knife and the knife-support may be limited, as desired. As herein shown, the stop 7L consists of a metal block, which is attached to the bar II by means of a bolt passing through the block and through one of the scrics of bolt-apertures in the bar in the manner illustrated. The knife is pivotally connected at its front end both with the knifesupport II and the supporting-bar H preferably by means of a vertically-arranged lug f upon the knife, which is pivoted to the bar 11 near the lower end of the latter. Said lug f is herein shown as formed upon a plate or casting, which is bolted to the forward end of the knife in the mannerillustrated. The guide 11 is herein shown as formed by means of two pieces, Fig. 3, of metal bent, bolted to the frame-piece A and extending inwardly therefrom to form two parallel horizontal lugs or projections through which passes the bar 11.

At its rear end the knife F is supported by devices constructed as follows: F is an upright metal rod, which is herein shown as supported at its upper end on an arm or bracket f attached to the transverse frame-piece A and at its lower end to a horizontal transversely-arranged arm f which extends outwardly to the frame-standard A and is se cured to the latter. The said rod F is located near the rear end of the knife F in the man nor clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 1 l. are two slotted arms attached to the flange F of the knife and engaging the rod F and i is aspiral spring placed around said rod between the lowermost of the arms f and the arm f which is attached to the lower end of the rod. The slotted arms ff are adapted to slide freely on the rod F thereby allowing a vertical movement of the rear end of the knife, while the spring F yieldingly supports said rear end of the knife and allows a small extent of downward play therein during the operation of cutting the stalks. The rear end of the knife is of course free to rise by the sliding of the arms f f" on the rod F this being the way in which it moves to the greatest extent in the operation of cutting, because the knife tends to rise as it passes over the stubs of the obliquely severed stalks. The engagement of the two slotted arms f' f with said rod F obviously prevents the knife from lateral movement or from twisting, while allowing the slight vertical movement desirable in the operation of the knife.

The vertical adjustment of the knife to enable it to cut the stalks at agreater or less distance from the ground is accomplished by making the rod 1 and arm 1, which is attached to the lower end of the same, vertically adjustable upon the machine-frame, and also by providing vertical adjustment for the stop 71 on the knife-supporting bar II at the forward end of the knife, in the manner hereinbefore described.

The adj nstable connection of the bar F and arm f with the frame is herein shown as formed as follows: The outer end of the arm f is attached by a boltf to the frame-standard A", and in said framestandard are-formed several bolt-apertures, within either of which the bolt f may be placed. Said rod 'F is provided in its upper part with a series of holes, in either of which maybe placed a pin f, which engagesthe arm f and thereby sustains the rod F in position vertically.

The knife-support II is herein shown as made of sheet metal and bent or curved upwardly at its rear end beneath the forward end of the knife to enable it to ride smoothly upon the ground or over any obstruction which it may strike either in going forward or in backing the machine. The hinged counection between the forward end of the said knife-support and the frame is conveniently formed by bending inwardly the rear end of the rod G at right angles, and bending around the transverse part of said rod the end of the said knife-support, so as to form a hinged joint.

As herein illustrated and preferably constructed, the screw conveyor 1 is mounted at its forward end in a bearing 1', which is supported upon the longitudinal frame-piece A somewhat in advance of the cutting-knife. Said bearing 1' is made vertically adjustable with reference to the frame in order to enable the conveyor to be adjusted vertically when desired. The devices for adj ustably supporting said bearing upon the frame, which are herein shown, consist of a standard t", which is bolted to the frame-piece A and enters and slides within a depending tubular part i on the bearing 2'. A pin 2' inserted through the said tubular part 2' and engaging one of the series of holes in the standard 1), serves to sustain the bearingin a desired vertical position. A guide-rod G extends from the bearing 1' forwardly to a point near the front end of the frame, where it is attached to the latter, said rod G being arranged above the frame-piece A and serving to guide the stalks'and prevent them from catching in the conveyersupport as they move backwardly toward the knife. The conveyer I extends across the machine rearwardly and inwardly from the bearing 2', so that the buttends of the cut stalks will fall across its forward end and will be carried by the spiral flange therein inwardly until they are no longer supported by the conveyer, when they drop into the receptacle. A shield or deflector 1, preferably made conical and of sheet metal, is attached to the conveyer-shaft near or at its rear end, the same being designed to prevent the stalks from being carried backward and deposited too far at the rear, the butts of the stalks strikingthe said shield or deflector in case they are carried backwardlyfar enough to encounter the same. At its rear end the conveyer is sustained in a bearing 1 which is attached to the top of the transverse frame-- piece A This bearing is capable of vertical adjustment to change the distance of the conveyer from the ground, said bearing being adapted for removal from the frame-piece A and being adapted to be attached beneath said frame-piece A in case it is desired to lower the spiral conveyer. Fig. 7 a shows the bearing in its changed position. Said bearing 1 is herein shown as provided with an arm I, by which it is attached to the frame-piece.

To facilitate the attachment of the bearing I beneath the frame-piece A a casting Fig. 7, the lower surface of which is fitted to the upper face of the arm I, is secured to the frame-piece by the same belt which holds the said arm against the frame-piece.

The driving connections for actuating the conveyer shaft are, as herein shown, constructed as follows: To the rear end of the conveyer-shaft is connected, by means of a universal or gimbal joint 11*, a shaft l to the rear end of which is secured a beveled pinion 1' is a horizontal transverse shaft located at the extreme rear end of the machine and mounted in suitable bearings Fi i upon the machine-frame. The shaft I is mounted'at its rear end in a bearing i, which is pivotally supported on the shaft 1 in the manner illustrated, Fig. 7, thereby allowing the front end of the said shaft to be swung vertically when the conveyer is moved up or down. The said shaft 1 is desirably provided with a longitudinally-slidingjoint, by which the shaft may be lengthened or shortened when the bearing 1 is raised or lowered. As herein shown, such joint is formed by a square end i on the shaft, which fits in a socket 2' in the member of the gimbal-joint with which the shaft is immediately connected. The shaft 1 is provided at its outer end with a pinion I, which is engaged with the gear-wheel J mounted upon a short shaft J, upon which is fixed a sprocket-pinion J, and the said gear-wheel is driven by means of a chain belt J trained over the said sprocket-pinion J and the sprocket J upon the wheel K. A beveled gear-wheel 1 mounted upon the shaft: 1*, engages with and actuates the beveled pinion 721113011 the rear end of the shaft 1 Said shaft I carries a crank-disk i, by which is operated an auxiliary cuttingknife, arranged as hereinafter described.

l is a transverse shield or plate extending from a point behind the rear end of the cutter-knife to a point at the rear of the rear end of the conveyer. Said plate 1 serves as a guard to prevent the butts of stalks which may enter the space between the conical dcfiector and the rear flange of the knife from being carried rearwardly and becoming caught in the adjacent parts of the machine in the act of dumping the stalks, it being obvious that any stalks which rest across the conveyer with their tops on the tilting section E at the moment the latter is lifted to discharge the stalks are liable to be thrust backwardly over said conveyer, unless the said shield is present, in which case their front ends slide forward over the tilting section as the latter is raised, while their rear ends are moved laterally by the conveyer until they drop. therefrom. Said shield I is herein shown as riveted to the arm or bracket 1, which sustains the bearing 1 but it may be otherwise attached to or sustained on the machine frame.

The auxiliary cutter hereinbefore referred to is for the purpose of catching and cutting off any down or bent stalks which may so lie that the cutting-knife will not operate upon them, and which are therefore likely to pass under the knife in the forward movement of the machine. Such auxiliary cutter also cuts off any loose blades, vines, weeds, and other things which would otherwise be caught and accumulate beneath and at the rear of the knife Any such down orbent stalks are likely to be thrown laterally, so as to bring their tops toward the conveyer or beneath the same, and are liable to be left unsevered by the main knife, owing to their downward and forward inclination. The said auxiliary knife is located at the rear of the cutting-knife and upon the longitudinal frame-piece A, which constitutes the inner guide for the stalks. The auxiliary knife thus located operates to sever the forwardly and inwardly bent stalks when the latter reach the space between the top of the said longitudinal frame-piece A and the rear end of the main cutting-knife,

which latter extends inwardly over the said longitudinal framepiece some distance above the same. Said auxiliary cutter is made as follows: M. is an upright stationary casting secured to the frame-piece A at. the rear of the main knife parallel with the said framepiece A and extending upwardly from the latter. Said casting M is provided with a central notch or recess having opposite parallel or nearly parallel cutting-edges m m, preferably formed by separate steel plates attached to the casting M at its upper and lower margins. To said castingill is pivoted an oscillating knife M, which is mounted on a pivot m, and which is provided with converging or angular cutting-edges, which operate in connection with the cutting-edges n: m, with a shearing action in the manner of ordinary scissors or shears. The knife M is provided with an arm 771?,1'0 the end of which is pivoted by a pin m a pitman M which engages the crank-pin of a crank-disk t" upon the end of the shaft 1. The rotary movement of said shaft gives an oscillatory movement to the knife )1, by which anything drawn or carried into the spaces at the side of the knife and between the same and the cutting-edges m m is severed. The notch or opening in the plate ill, within 'which the knife moves, is so located that stalks escaping the main knife F and passing beneath the same will be drawn against the said knife, the lower part of the plate being provided with an inclined guide-surface m, which slants upwardly and rearwardly from the frame-piece A in such manner as to guide the stalks moving along said frame-piece upwardly and into the notch of the casting and in position to be acted upon by the knife.

The supporting-wheels K K of the machine are, as herein shown, mounted upon short studs or axles K 11, attached to plates K K which are adjustable vertically upon the frame-standards A A", to give a desired vertical adjustment of the machineframe with reference to the ground.

N is a seat for the driver, which is secured to the transverse frame-pieces A A" at the rear of the machine, in the manner illustrated.

For the purpose of parting the corn in front of the horse a parting-guide L is provided, the same consisting of a curved or bent rod attached at its ends to the front of the thills and projecting forwardly and downwardly therefrom, as clearly shown in Figs. 14: and 15. The parting-guide thus constructed will obviously lift up as well as part any down wardlybent stalks in the path of the machine. It is obviouslv not essential that the waitin -guide should be double or joined to both thills in the manner described, inasmuch as in most cases it is sufficient to attach the guide to the thill nearest the row of corn being operated upon and to employ a single guide only, only one 1')arting-gui .le being necessary, except when the machine is passing between two close rows of corn. A parting-guide arranged and operating in the manner described, furthermore, need not extend continuously from one thill to the other, but a separate guide may be employed upon each thill with substautiallythe same result. The particular construction illustrated is usually, however, pre ferred as affording a simple and strong construction in the parting-guide.

As a further and separate improvement I locate upon the machine, below and approximately parallel with the thill at the side of the machine nearest the row being cut, a guide-rod O, which is attached atits forward end to the parting-guide L and extends rearwardly to a point adjacent to the main frame of the machine. The guide 0 thus arranged serves to hold outwardly the fallen and other stalks which have been pressed out of the path of the machine by the parting-guide If until the guides at the sides of the machine reach the presscd'out stalks, thereby preventing the same from falling inwardly beneath the thills and getting caught beneath the frame of the machine or the wheels. Said guide 0 further acts as a brace for the part;- ing-guide 11'.

As shown in Figs. 14: and 15, the guide 0 is bent upwardly near its rear end and attached to the thill itself. This construction, how ever, illustrates only one way of supporting a guide-rod of this kind, and it may be sustained in other ways, as found convenient or desirable, as for instance, the machine in some instances may have only two wheels and rigid thills, and in such case the guide-rod will conveniently be extended from the main part of the machine'framc forwardly to the parting-guide L. A construction of this kind is shown in Fig. 16, wherein the guide 0 is attached at its forward end to the partingguide If and at its rear end to the main longitudinal frame-piece A near the forward end of the machine.

In order to prevent any standing cornstalks from entering between the wheel and the body of the machine at the side thereof opposite the knife, a guide-rod or fender L is desirably provided, said rod being attached to the outer end of the wheel-axle and to the machine-frame at a point in advance of the wheel.

In Figs. 12 and 13 I have shown an automatic alarm device actuated by the turning of one of the wheels of the machine and provided with a bell or gong which is sounded at equal intervals of space traveled by the machine, so as to indicate to the operator at what points theaceu 1n ulatcd stalks must be dumped. in order to bring the piles of stalks in equidistant rows across the field. In the particular form thereof herein shown the said alarm device is constructed as follows: I is a metal base-plate of the apparatus, which is attached to the machine-frame at a point adjacent to one of the main supporting-wheels K, said casing preferably being attached to one of the plates K Fig. 11., to which the wheel-axles IICJ K are attached. Upon said plate P is pivoted a vertically-arranged actuating-lever 19, located adjacent to the wheel-hub and in position to be encountered by a stud is upon one of the spokes of the wheel, as clearly shown in Fig. 12. The lever P is provided with an arm P to which is connected a coil-spring P adapted to return the actuating-lever to its normal position after it has been moved by the action of the stud ]i; thereon. Q is a shaft mounted upon the plate P and having mounted thereon two ratchet-wheels Q Q a cam or wiper Q and a ratchet-wheel Q. Said shaft Q is herein shown as made tubular or hollow and mounted on a hollow stud or sleeve g, which is held in place upon the plate P by means of a bolt q. The several cams and ratchet-wheels are desirably surrounded by means of a casing P attached to the upper part of the plate P to protect said part from dust and dirt. The several ratchet-wheels and the cam are rigidly attached to and turn with the shaft Q. The ratchet-wheel Q} is merely for the purpose of preventing the shaft from turning backwardly, and is engaged by a spring-pawl g R is a bell or gong which is acted on by a hammer R, supported upon a bent lever R which is mounted on a pivot r. The end 0" of said spring-arm is held in the path of the cam or wiper Q by means of a spring 7. Said parts are so arranged that said lever will be actuated by the cam and the hammer allowed to fall against the bell at each revolution of the shaft Q. The gongR and lever B are herein shown as mounted on the upper part of the casing P S is a pawl pivoted to the lever P, engaging one of the ratchet-wheels Q, Q and s is a spring mounted on a stud attached to said lever and provided with an arm acting upon said pawl S to hold the same in contact with the said ratchet-wheels. One of said ratchet-wheels Q, has fewer teeth than the other ratchet-wheel Q, the wheel Q, as herein shown, having four teeth, while the Wheel Q has five teeth, and the pawl S is allowed to be shifted laterally by sliding on the pivot stud s to engage either one or the other of said ratchet-Wheels, as desired. The extent of oscillatory movement of the lever P is such as to carry the pawl over one tooth of the ratchet-wheel engaged therewith at each movement of the actuating-lever P. It follows, therefore, that when the pawl S is engaged with the ratchet-wheel Q the lever P must be moved five times to accomplish the turning of the shaft once, and when the said pawl is engaged with the ratchet-wheel Q four movements of the actuating-arm are required to turn the shaft once. Inasmuch as the hammer R is actuated once for each complete rotation of the shaft, it follows that when the pawl is acting on the ratchet-wheel Q having five teeth, the bell will be sounded once for each five turns of the main supporting-wheels K of the machine, and when the pawl is engaged with the ratchet-wheel Q,

having four teeth, the bell will be sounded at each four revolutions of the supporting-wheel K. It will of course be understood that the ratchet-wheels Q Q may be provided with a greater or less number of teeth, in accordance with the distance apart at which it is desired to deposit the bundles of stalks, and that only one or more than two ratchet-wheels may be employed, as desired. hen only one ratchetwheel is used, the intervals between the action of the alarm-bell cannot be changed, and. the employment of two or more of such ratchet-wheels affords the advantage of enabling the operator to adjust the alarm device so that it will act more or less frequently, as de'- sired. The actuating-lever P is so located with reference to the stud 7a that the stud will engage and move the lever both in turning backward and forward, thereby preventing injury to the parts in case the wheel K is turned backward in backing the machine or turning the same around.

In Fig. 17 I have shown amaehine containing the same general features of construction above described, but modified for use in cutting sorghum-cane, which is much taller than corn. To adapt the machine for use in sorghnm the receptacleE is removed and alonger and larger receptacle T is placed upon the front part of the frame and extends forward of the front end of the-latter, the draft-connections being arranged to bring the horse farther forward, so as not to interfere with the said receptacle. Said receptacle T is of'trou'gh shape, open at its front and rear ends and located in an inclined position, as shown, so

that the tops of the cane resting therein may slide freely backwardly out of the receptacle when the rear ends of the cane are dropped upon the ground. Said receptacle T is provided at the side of the machine opposite that at which the cutting-knife is placed with an upward extension 6 of its side wall for preventing the tops of the cane from being thrown over the same as they fall laterally after being cut.

Devices for sustaining the butt-ends of the stalks and for dropping the same upon the ground for the purpose of discharging the cane are made as follows: U is a vertical shaft located at the side of the frame opposite the cntting-knife and having a horizontal arm U, which maybe either swungcrosswise of the frame in position to receive the butts thrown or carried inwardly by the conveyer T, or may be swung rearwardly paral lel with and adjacent to the longitudinal frame-piece A to allow the butts to drop upon the ground. Foractuating the shaft U to accomplish the shifting of the arm U in the manner described, said rock-shaft is provided with a crank-arm a, connected by a pitman a with a hand-lever U located within reach of the driver. Asupport for the butts of the cane, constructed substantially in the same manner as above described, is shown in said prior patent, No. 299301, and is not therefort IIO herein claimed as part of my invention. V is an auxiliary guide-rod attached to the framestandard A at the side of the machine opposite the cutting knife, extending upwardly and then downwardly and forwardly and attached to the side of the receptacle T and to the frame-piece A. Said guide-rod V operates to guide the tops of the cane downwardly and forwardly as the cane is thrown inwardly over the machine at the time of being cut and to bring the same within the reeeptacle in an obvious manner.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with the thill of a cornharvester, of a downwardly and forwardly extending guide-rod or parting-guide, and a longitudinal guide-rod located below the thill, attached at its forward end to the said parting-guide, and extending rearwardly to apoint adjacent to the front end of the machine, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the frame of a corn-harvester and a cutting-knife thereon, of an elevated deflector for throwing the tops of the corn forward, said deflectorbeinglongitudinally adjustable upon the machine-frame, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the frame of a corn-harvester and a cutting-knife thereon, of a deflector for throwing the tops of the corn forward, said deflector being longitudinally movable on the machine-frame, and a locking device for securing said deflector in place, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the frame of a corn-harvester and a cutting-knife thereon, of a deflector for throwing the tops of the corn forward, said deflector being longitudinally movable on the machine-frame, and a bar for movin said deflector, attached to the deflector and extending rearwardly therefrom, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the longitudinally-adjustable deflector C, having sliding connection with the machine-frame, of a bar connected with said deflector, said bar being provided with a series of notches, and a stationary stop or projection upon the frame adapted to engage either one of said notches, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the frame of a corn-harvester and elevated lateral guides for the stalks thereon, of a longitudinally-adjustable deflector for throwing the tops of the corn forwardly, said deflector having sliding engagement with said guides, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the frame of a corn-harvester, an elevated lateral guide B running outside of the stalks to be cut, and an inclined lateral guide D, of a longitudinally-adjustable deflector for throwing the tops of the corn forwardly, said deflector having sliding engagement at one end with the said guide B and being provided with a slotted arm, which is engaged with the said inclined guide, substantially as described.

S. The combination, with the lateral guide 13 provided with a longitudinal guide-slot, of the deflector 0, provided at one end with a T-head engaging said slot, and a guide for the opposite end of said deflector, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the frame of a corn-harvester, a cutting-knife, and a receptacle for the cut corn, of a longitudinally-arranged elevated guide for bending the tops of the standing corn inward, said guide being curved or rounded on its upper and inner surface, a longitudinally-adj ustable elevated de- [iector for throwing the tops of the corn forward, and avertical guide-surface extending downwardly from said guide to a point below the ears on the standing stalks,substantially as described.

10. The combination, with theiframe and cutting-knife of a corn-harvester, of a receptacle for the cut corn, a hinged dropping extension at the rear end of said receptacle, and means for actuating said dropping extension, embracing a support for the extension, which is contractible to allow the same to rise to pass over obstructions at times when it is lowered, said receptacle having vertically-movable connection with the frame, whereby the said receptacle may rise and the hinged extension may be bodily lifted to pass over obstructions, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with the frame and cutting-knife of a corn-harvester, of a receptacle for the cut corn, comprising a hinged rear part or dropping extension adapted to swing downwardly to discharge the stalks, and a separate tilting section at the forward part of the receptacle, the forward end of which section is constructed to swing upwardly and rearwardly, so as to thrust the cut stalks toward the rear of the machine, substantially as described.

12. The combination, with the frame and cutting-knife of a corn-harvester, of a receptacle for the cut corn, comprising a hinged dropping extension at the rear end of said receptacle and a separate tilting section at the forward part of said receptacle for thrusting backward the cut stalks, and a connection between the dropping extension and hinged sec tion, by which the former will be lowered when the latter is elevated, substantially as described.

18. The combination, with a receptacle for out corn, a dropping extension at the rear end. thereof, and a tilting section at the forward end thereof, of a connection between said parts, which is contractible to allow the drop.- ping extension to arise to pass over an obstruction in its path, substantially as described.

14. The combination, with the receptacle E, comprising a dropping extension E and a tilting section E, of a rigid arm upon the said dropping extension, rods connecting said arm with the tilting section,blocks or clips affording sliding connection between said rods, and

IIO 

